Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
What I Tell My Students During Exam Season (When They're Anxious, Fed Up, or Just Done)
It’s exam season, and students are feeling everything - nerves, bravado, burnout. In this post, I’m sharing what I tell mine before and after the paper, including the one phrase I never say, and the exam story I retell every year. If you’re teaching through GCSEs right now, this one’s for you.
Velvet Shadows and Candlelight: Why Darkness Belongs in the Classroom
Why are teens drawn to dystopias, gothic settings, and grief-soaked poetry? The answer might be simpler than you think. In this post, we explore how darker stories offer emotional depth, powerful writing opportunities, and space for healing inside the classroom.